Boiler system with cooking chamber



526W 15; 1947 E. J. LE CLAIRE -BOILER SYSTEM WITH COOK-ING CHAMBER Filed F'eb. 11, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 1 35am .52W {ff-[06m www fils Sept. 16, 1947. E; J, LE CLAIRE 2,427,564

BOILER SYSTEM WITH COOKING CHAMBER Filed Feb. 11, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 11 t 1/ 10 ,so 1211 Patented Sept. 16, 1947 STATES PATENT GFFICE BOILER SYSTEM WITH COOKlNG CHAMBER -lr3u, ;,fene Le Claire, St. Paul, Minn., assigner to HarryF. Joesting, St. Paul, Minn.

UNITED My invention relates to an improvement 'in boiler systems, wherein it is desired to provide a simple and effective device for generating heat for use in cooking and vsterilizing operations.

extremely high pressure Within the systemis preivented at its source.

A -feature of the present invention lies in the combination of a simple but effective boiler sys- Many large restaurants are equipped with 5 tem with a pressure. cooker chamber into which steam generating plants which provide steam for the steam pressure is admitted. This steam presuse in cooking and stemming. smaller restausure may -be used for cooking purposes, -such as rants and other establishments such as small fOr COOing 'Vegetables 0r the like, 0r may be hospitals and the like, do not have a suitable used t0 provide heat for'sterlizing at Vhigh temsource of steam pressure, and rely onother means Deralues- My boilerSYStem -iS S0 arranged that of cooking and steruizing. Where small steam it 'may be Converted from a Cooking device t0 e generating systems vare at present employed, SterlZng apparatus by merely replang the these plants are often slow in operation `and re- C00k11g utensils by 2 Closed Chamber Sutabiefor quiro Considerable @are in use containing material to be sterilized at high tem- It is the object of vthe present invention ,to i5 ,perallresprovide a simple .boiler system which will operate A feature 0f tne Present 'invention iies in the quickly andeconomically to generatesteam pres- Provision 0f a SnPpiY tank Wnienis maintained sure for use in cooking, sterilizing, and the like. undeltne Pressure Wnien is equaiized Se tnet the This boereystem will Voperate vto provide Stoom liquid may be fed into the boiler just as readily in an extremely vShort period of time, and Wm as thoughno pressure existed in the boiler. This automatically maintain a proper Water `level so system 4is combined with a-steam valve which is as to require little or ,no attention. My .boiler S0 ai'ranged aS t0 permit the passage of air theresystem is `so arranged .that Ait Will require but a through nut t0 prevent tne 'Passage 0f Steam' Smau amount of Water, and as a result is par- As a result the air Within the-cooking or sterilizticularly adapted for portable use in travelling ing Chamber may be replaced by Steam, 4the air army units or the like. It is also readily adaptentering the Water SnPpiY tank and being com' able for use in small restaurants, hospitals and pressed te the Same pressure that exists in the the like, Where a ready source of steam is not Ceeking'enembei" available. A Afurther-feature of the present invention lies A feature of the present invention resides the-Constructcn 0f boiler System SO the feet that au partsof the system are .under the boiler is mounted 'near the base of an inequal pressure. The boiler .device operates to Suini/ed Compartment and the Cooking Chamber generate steam. This steam is `transmitted to a is ioeated above the beiiei" 'AS a result any *heat p11essure Vessel which may be used Vforueookmg or not actually used to convert fthe Water to steam sterilizing purposes. The same pressure is transin the 'neiiei and may nensei *to neat tne Outer mitted to the Water Supply tank usedrforofeeding surface -of the cooking compartment. Thus the the bonen Furthermorethe float vwhich mgm entire system may be heated lin an extremely lates the level of .liquid `Within the Vboileris sub- Snert period et time and e quien Source of Steam jected to similar pressureso that the operating under Pressuieis Providedpressure of the device will notefect the operation 40 An added'feat-ure 0f the DreSerlt invention lies of the oat. As a result there :is little dangervof irl the'OD COHSIUCOH 0f the Pressure Chamberthe steam pressure forcing the `Water within -the This top iS .S0 arranged that it may be brlgedli boiler to some otherpart of the system, thereby supported in Vposition to close the pressure-chamemptying the boiler and causingtserious damage ber, or may be pivotally opened away from the to the boiler. cooking chamber. When Ain closed position the A feature of the present invention vlies .in ,the cover 4is'held in place by a series of `lever arms provision of a steam boiler system in Whiohfthe which seal the compartment under pressure to steam supply is regulated :by :the pressure genprevent the leakage osteam. erated Within theboileix The apparatus maybe These and other objects and novel features of set to generate a'predetermined amount ofpresmy invention will be Ymore clearly and fully set sure. When .'sucient pressure has been genforth in the following specification and claim. i erated'the steampressure acts to cut oi the heat In the drawings forming apart of my specifisupply so asto prevent a greater pressure `from cation: being generated. A'Ihus lthe `building up of an 55 Figure `1 is avertical sectional viewthrougha portion of the boiler system, the remainder oi. the system being shown in elevation.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic top plan View of the system showing the construction thereof.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the top of the cooker compartment showing the closure einployed for locking the chamber closed.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through a portion of the pressure chamber wall and the top of the pressure chamber showing the manner in which the top is pivotally connected to the body of the boiler system.

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 4 showing the pivotal connection between one of the locking levers and the top closure of the pressure chamber.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a type of basket which may be used within the pressure chamber to contain vegetables or the like for cooking purposes.

The boiler system A includes a boiler and cooker element B, and a water supply tank C, which are associated together in actual use. The supply tank C may be attached to the casing of the boiler system B, or may be maintained independently thereof depending upon which arrangement is more suitable and convenient for each particular installation. In the accompanying drawings the supply tank C is shown mounted on the separate support adjacent the boiler system B, but it should be understood that various other elementsl for supporting the supply tank could readily be provided.

The boiler system unit B includes inner and outer hollow cylinder shells lil and II, having a thickness of insulation I2 therebetween. The lower end of the space between the shells I and II is closed by a channel-shaped ring I3, while the upper end thereof is closed by a ring-shaped sealing member I4, the construction of which is best illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings.

The ring-shaped sealing element I4 includes a slightly tapered flat ring I provided at its outer extremity with an upstanding flange I6. A downwardly extending iiange I1 lies inwardly of the outer casing shell II, and is secured thereto. A channel-shaped depression I9 is provided between the edges of the ringshaped member I5, and the outer wall 20 of this channel I9 contacts the inner casing wal1 I0 and is secured thereto. A gasket of rubber or other suitable material 2I is provided Within the channel I9 so as to form a seal with the top closure of the chamber.

A cooking vessel 22 is secured adjacent the wall 23 of the channel I9, This vessel 22 includes a substantially cylindrical wall 24 and a downwardly bowed bottom 25. The precise shape of the cooking vessel, however, is not of extreme importance in the present construction. A perforated plate 26 is preferably provided within the vessel 22 above the base 25'to act as a support for a sterilizing receptacle D, or a cooking basket E, such as is illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings.

A baffle 21 is secured by spaced bolts 29, or other suitable means, to the bottom 25 of the cooking vessel 22 so that all of the heat from the boiler unit, which will be later described, will not be directed against the bottom 25 of the vessel, but will be distributed along the bottom and along the side walls of the same. A chimney outlet 39 is provided through the casing walls I0 and II. This chimney opening communicates with a suitable chimney pipe 3I, as illustrated.

Below the cooking vessel 22, I provide a boiler unit 32. This boiler unit includes a substantially cylindrical outer shell 33 having an upwardly bowed top 34 and a downwardly bowed bottom 35. The boiler is also provided with an inner cylindrical wall 3G, similarly provided with a bowed top 31 and a downwardly bowed bottom 39. An opening 4 extends through both the bottom 39 of the inner boiler chamber and the bottom 35 of the outer boiler chamber, and a cylindrical sleeve 4I connects the bottoms of the two compartments, sealing these two elements together. A series of angularly spaced sleeves 42 extend through the tops 34 and 31 of the inner and outer boiler chambers to provide a means of permitting the heated air within the inner boiler compartment to escape upwardly therefrom.

From the foregoing description it will be noted that the space 43 between the inner and outer boiler chambers is sealed and is ordinarily filled with liquid, Pipes 44 and 45 extend laterally from the upper and lower ends of the boiler chamber 43, and a liquid gage 45 is provided between the pipes 44 and 45, which extend through the casing walls Ill and II. As is usual practice, valves are provided in the upper and lower ends of the water glass to permit the pipes 44 and 45 to be shut off in case of injury to the water glass.

A pipe 41 extends from the top 34 of the outer boiler wall to communicate steam pressure to various parts of the system. A pipe 49 connected to the pipe 41 is provided with an inlet 5U into the cooking vessel 22 at a point spaced from lthe lower end thereof. The pipe 41 is also connected by a pipe 5I to the top of the iioat chamber 52 to transmit pressure above the liquid in the oat Chamber. The lower end of the float chamber is connected by a feed pipe 53 to the boiler drain pipe 54 connected at the lower extremity of the boiler. A cap or plug 55 on the ends of the drain pipe 54 permits the liquid to be drained from the boiler, should occasion require such action.

The pipe 41 is connected to a Valve 56 which controls the flow of gas or other heating uid through the pipe 51 from the source of fluid supply, to the pipe 59 leading to the gas manifold 50 on the burner 6I. The burner 6I is supported by transverse supports 62 which hold the burner directly beneath the boiler.

The boiler is supported by means of a pair of opposed clamping straps 63 which encircle the body of the outer boiler wall 33 and which are terminally connected to the Yinner casing wall I9. Clamping -bolts 64 provide a means of clamping the pair of straps 63 about the boiler to support the same,

The bale 65 is secured in outwardly spaced relation to the outer surface of the boiler. The baille 65 includes a tapered skirt 6B and a top flange 61 secured by bolts or other means 69 to the outer casing of the boiler. The baie 65 is formed in two parts which are semi-circular in shape s0 that they may readily clamp about the various pipes connected to the boiler and about the supporting straps 53.

A pressure gage 19 is preferably secured by a conduit 1I in communication with the interior surface of the cooking vessel 22 so as to measure the pressure therein. A pipe 12 also communi- Cates with the interior of the cooking vessel 22 and extends through the check valve 13 to the upper extremity of the supply tank C. The check valve 13 is arranged to permit the entrance of fluid into the tank C, but to prevent the flow of uid in a reverse direction from the tank to the cooking vessel. The lowerextremity of the tank C is connected by a flexible conduit 'I4 to the top of the noat chamber 52 so as to feed uid to the float chamber as required. A water level glass 'I5 is connected at its ends 'I6 and 11 into the tank C so that the level of liquid within this tank may be observed at all times. The tank C is provided with a sealing plug 'I9 of any suitable design and is also equipped With a pressure gage 8B by means of which the pressure within the pressure chamber may be measured. A valve 8l is provided either in the pipe line l2, or extending through the closure of the cooking vessel to permit the escape of air from the cooking vessel without allowing steam to escape therefrom. 'Ihe valve 8| is of a type similar .to that used on steam radiators or the like, such a valve permitting air to pass therethrough from the cooking vessel, but automatically closing to prevent the escape of steam therethrough. A valve capable of serving this purpose is shown in Patent 563,879 to Andrew G, Paul.

The construction of the cooking vessel closure 82 is best understood from an examination of Figures i through 5 of the drawings. This closure 52 comprises an upwardly bulged or dome-shaped top surface 83 which is strengthened by means of angularly spaced strengthening ribs or fins 84 on the undersurface of the top. A hollow cylinder well 85 is provided at the center of the closure S for a purpose which will later be described in detail.

The top of the closure 82 is provided with a hinge lug 86 extending from one surface thereof. A pair of spaced lugs 8'! extend upwardly from the sealing ring I5. A rod 89 connects these lugs El, this rod extending through the hinge lug B6 to hingedly connect the closure to the body of the device. As the hinge lug 86 is substantially narrower than the distance between the lugs 3l, it is obvious that the cover is angularly adjustable as well as hingedly secured.

A series of angularly spaced inverted L-shaped bolts 9i! are attached to the ring I5 and extend upwardly therefrom. The free ends of the lugs 9G point in a single rotative direction. Lever arms QI are hingedly and slidably connected to the closure 82 at pivot points 92 near the edge of the closure 52. One end 93 of each of the lever arms Si is somewhat hook-shaped to hook beneath the bolts 95. The other ends of each of the lever arms 9i is extended into a recess 94 in the cross head 95. The cross head 95 is internally threaded to engage a threaded shaft 9E which extends into the cylindrical socket 85 in the closure. A flange Sl' on the shaft 96 is seated in a suitable socket between the top of the closure 82 and a retaining plate 92 which holds the shaft 95 in place.

A crank arm IEE! is centrally secured at Il to the shaft 95 and is provided with knobs |62, by means of which the shaft 95 may be rotated. The shaft 95 will rotate freely with respect to the closure 82, being held from longitudinal movement with respect thereby by the engagement of the frame Sl with its cooperating socket and retaining plate 99.

It will be noted that rotation of the shaft 9S will raise and lower the cross head 95, thereby pivoting the levers 9| in unison. The apertures Slt in the cross head 95 are of sulicient size to permit the necessary pivotal movement of the arms therein. As the cross head 95 moves downwardly, lowering the inner ends of the levers 9i in unison, the outer ends of these levers are piv- 6 oted vupwardly into engagement with the hori-V zontal ends of the bolts S0. Because of the angular adjustability of the hinge supporting the closure 82, the lever arms 9| may be moved from position beneath the horizontal portions of the bolts 92 to the angularly spaced position with respect thereto, when the cover is in the dotted outline position illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. When the closure is in the position illustrated in Figures 1, 3, and 5 of the drawings, the closure is clamped against the boiler unit, the cylindrical nange |63 thereof sealing against the gasketI 2l. However, by raising the cross head 55 so as to release the lever arms Si from the bolts S9, the cover may be rotated angularly a suicient distance to place the lever arms in the dotted outline position shown in Figure 2, permitting the closure to be hingedly swung into open position.

The closure 82 is provided with a safety valve IE5 extending therethrough so as to release excess pressure, should such pressure be generated. A drain pipe H35 is provided at the base of the cooking vessel 22, this drain pipe leading to a drain faucet IGS. Operation of the faucet |55 will not only release steam pressure, but also permit the drainage of condensed fluid from the bottom of the cooking vessel 22.

The sterilizing receptacle D may be of any suitable shape, size, or style, and is preferably provided with a closed cover |01 to prevent the entrance of steam or liquid into the receptacle D. When the boiler system is used for cooking purposes, a divided basket, such as E may be used. The basket E is provided with a base IBS, and semi-circular side walls III! which are connected with the stra-ight diametrically extending wall III. Handles I I2 on the basket sections permit the basket sections to be individually handled.

The operation of the boiler is believed obvious from an examination of the foregoing description. The boiler is lled with water to a point spaced slightly above the top S? of the inner boiler wall and is maintained at this height by a ilo-at within the float chamber 52. Pressure on opposite sides of the float is equalized through the pipes 41 and 5 I, communicating with the top of the oat chamber, and the pipes 53 and 54 communicating with the bottom of the oat chamber through which liquid enters the boiler. The valve 55 controls the flow of gas or heat to the boiler, the pressure within the boiler acting upon the valve to open or close the same. 'I'he steam is quickly generated due to the relatively small body of water in combination with the boiler and due to the large surface area of the lboiler itself. This steam is transmitted into the cooking vessel 22 and the air within this vessel is exhausted through the valve 8|. Pressure is transmitted to the top of the water tank through the pipe I2 and the check valve i3. This prevents any danger of the water in the boiler being forced rearwardly through the float chamber and into the supply tank.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my boiler system, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claim without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

A boiler system including a boiler, a cooking chamber having a closure thereon by means of which the chamber may be closed to submit the 7 chamber to pressure, a pressure connection from the top of said boiler to a point on said cooking chamber spaced substantially from the bottom thereof, a closed fluid supply tank, a connection from a point near the top of said cooking chamber to the top of said fluid supply tank, a valve connected to said last named connection, said valve being capable of venting air, but notl steam, to remove air from said cooking chamber and said last named connection, a check valve in said last named connection for allowing steam to enter said uid supply tank, but preventing a return 110W of fluid to said cooking chamber, a fluid supply line connected to said boilernear the lower end thereof, a, float chamber connected to said fluid supply line, a water supply line extending from the bottom of said iiuid supply tank to the top of said float chamber, and a pressure connection from the top of said boiler toV the top of said oat chamber.

EUGENE J. LE CLAIRE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

Number `UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Faust Apr. 14, Bomyer June 30, Brantly Aug. 4, Hamilton July 20, Stevenson Aug. 15, Thompson Jan. 9, Gray July 12, Worsham Mar. 14, Peek June 3, Otis May 3, Roy Mar. 10, Kuss Oct. 17, Keenan Feb. 19, Neiman July 7, Jones Aug. 20, Paul July 14, Borsett May 26, Bowne May 23, Pentecost Apr. 7, 

